With summer approaching, boat owners are supposed to start thinking about what they’re going to need to make their time on the water safer and more pleasant. And for anyone who’s kept a boat in a warehouse or garage for the past few months, now’s the time to think about how to keep it protected when it’s spending more time on a trailer or at the dock.
Covers and tarps are the answer for every boater owner’s open-air and open-water woes. They’re the key to keeping the elements, along with a host of related repairs and expenses at bay which, if allowed to take place, could cost 10s of times more than a cover would.
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Boat Owners Trust Covers For Effortless Protection From the Elements
Let’s be honest: while boat owners ordinarily welcome bright sunny days, experienced ones know that the damage prolonged sunlight can do to a wooden or fibreglass hull can be extensive. Nowhere is prevention more important than where intense sun and UV exposure are involved, which is why durable, weather resistant covers for boat protection are so important.
Unlike old-school marine canvases made from paraffin-treated duck cotton, marine-grade, 100% high tech polyester covers, featuring elasticised hems and double-lapped seams, are designed to offer maximum protection against each of the following:
- The high temperature perils of sunlight and UV rays. Whereas sunlight and UV exposure can rapidly cause seats to crack, paint to fail and gel coatings to degrade, marine-grade boat covers offer colour fastness to light grades 6 and 7, delivering a level of UV protection that’s virtually impervious to sunlight.
- Mould-inducing moisture. Marine-grade polyester covers are designed to resist all types of rain, moisture and even salty humidity that could lead to the formation of mould and mildew, or cause wooden decks, transoms and rails to rot.
- Dust, debris and droppings. Wind-blown abrasives like dust and debris can all wear away at a boat’s upholstery and deckwork, while acidic bird droppings can stain and eat away at paint. A durable polyester marine boat cover, however, is designed to withstand the toughest environmental conditions.
As Australian summers are known for their high coastal humidity, frequent heavy downpours and marine heatwaves, protecting boats from unwanted environmental damage is as important as protecting them from rocks, docks and other types of physical impacts. A breathable, easy to clean boat cover that’s water resistant and UV-rated to UPF80 is the perfect solution for those environmental concerns. And the fact that owners can buy boat covers online as conveniently as they can in person illustrates how effortless protecting their craft actually is.
Cover Features That Help Avoid Potential Safety Hazards
Make no mistake: it doesn’t matter if it’s a 18′ bass boat, or a 25′ cuddy cabin, allowing a boat to accumulate a punch list of environmental damages is more than just a matter of bad optics. It’s an unqualified safety hazard.
A hull that’s brittle enough to also become porous, has visible signs of transom rot, or is exhibiting cracked gaskets and caulk lines is experiencing severe environmental damage. Water, of course, has no problem finding its way inside a UV-compromised hull; and if the intrusion is enough to affect the boat’s structural integrity, those bad optics can rapidly descend into a nightmare scenario. This is where the unmatched reliability of premium boat covers comes in with a range of features that include:
- Lightweight, 280gr/m2 construction with a tensile strength of 2200 N¹ | 1400 N²;
- Conveniently trailerable designs that are suitable for towing up to 60km/h;
- Marine grade tie-downs for maximum stability in all weather conditions;
- An elongation of 40%¹ | 30%² to accommodate handrails, biminis, and windscreens; and,
- Adjustable bow openings that allow for bowsprits and anchors.
Ideally, with the opportunity to buy boat covers for sale for watercraft up to 8.2m, with a fabric length of 10.08m compensating for a boat’s highest points, owners never have to worry about whether they have sufficient protection. And if a standard marine-grade cover for boat still isn’t large enough – or there’s a need for more narrowly defined coverage – there are covers on the market that are made to help owners meet those demands too.
Look For Special Marine Covers For Deckside Equipment Demands
While boat owners are able to buy boat covers to fit virtually any size or type of craft, there can still be instances where, depending on the type of chandlery the boat is outfitted with, additional environmental protection may be needed. Fortunately, powerboat and sailboat owners alike are able to buy special boat covers that are designed for maximum protection for a full complement of deckside equipment that includes:
- Vented and unvented outboard engine covers;
- Standard, and self tailing winch covers;
- Sailboat awnings with mast and backstay tailings;
- Yacht steering wheel covers; and,
- Covers for inflatables, dinghies and tenders.
And for owners who want absolute maximum protection for their watercraft, the option of placing a water resistant poly tarpaulin over their marine-grade cover is an approach that shouldn’t be ignored. Blue, high density polyethylene tarps offer 100% water and UV resistance, and are perfect sacrificial layers offering the following attributes:
- Double stitched construction for maximum tear resistance;
- Reinforced corners, with rustproof grommets; and,
- Sewn heat-sealed seams with rope reinforced hems.
With their light weight and ability to resist mildew and temperature swings from -29°C to 50°C, blue marine tarps offer an inexpensive over-layer of protection for custom-fitted polyester covers. They also clean up easily and can be fitted to any shape, making them a fully customisable coverage strategy that can be used anywhere, as well as during any season.
The Final Word
At the end of the day, protecting a boat from sunlight, moisture and UV damage is as much a matter of safety as it is cost. Environmental damage is rarely ever just surface deep, especially if it involves the hull, and the cost to repair it can easily exceed the market value of the boat. Fortunately, the cure is as simple as keeping everything properly covered.
Durable, weather resistant covers for boat accessories are the best way to prevent unwanted environmental damage. They’re an affordable summertime investment that can be used all year round.
